July 2019 - EASTERN OREGON PARENT - 5
Remembering one giant leap to the moon this month
By JENNIFER COLTON
This month marks 50 years since
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin
took a giant leap for mankind
after landing on the moon on
July 20, 1969. Millions of families
huddled around black-and-white
TVs, watching the Saturn V rocket
launch and staring wide-eyed as
Armstrong took his one small step
onto the surface of the moon. Fifty
years later, our children are several
generations removed from those
who watched the lunar landing in
real time, so commemorating the
event is not only about fun – it’s
about learning how important the
space race was in its time.
To celebrate at home, start that
discussion. If an older family mem-
ber remembers the landing, ask
them to describe the experience.
Maybe you can’t pinpoint the Apollo
landing sites, but use a telescope to
study the moon close-up. Experi-
ment with making impact craters
and compare those to the ones on
the lunar surface.
On NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab web
site you’ll find a history of the space
program, as well as space-themed
activities you can do with your kids.
There’s everything from making a
cardboard, rubber-band-powered
lunar rover to tracking the phases of
the moon (www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu).
For older children and teens, experi-
ment with photography and captur-
ing the best image of the moon or
go on a research scavenger hunt
to discover just how much of our
modern technology got a jump start
during the space race.
However you choose to com-
memorate the anniversary, the most
important part is making sure you
have the conversation. Those inter-
viewed for this story consistently
said youngsters today don’t under-
stand how important it was.
“It was huge,” says Ann Madigan,
a former teacher and librarian. “I
was thrilled at the time. I thought it
was wonderful, and I think people
need to talk to kids about it. It was
important and it only happened be-
cause there was a lot of effort made.
We did it because it was hard and it
was worth doing.”
Many who remember watching
the moon landing in 1969 worry that
advances in technology – some of
which grew out of the space race –
have made the event seem less real.
But that technology also enables
your family to re-live the event. An
online search for “Apollo 11 anni-
versary” will lead you to many video
compilations, from interviews with
the astronauts to aerial photos of
the landing site on the moon.
At 1 p.m. on Friday, July 19, NASA
will present “Giant Leaps: Past and
Future,” an opportunity to learn
about space exploration with inter-
views, videos, and tours – includ-
ing plans to return to the moon by
2024. You can find details and the
live stream at www.nasa.gov/nasa-
live.
With the moon landing in mind,
local libraries have centered their
summer reading programs around
the theme “A Universe of Stories.”
They are offering crafts, activities,
and special presentation all summer,
such as teens making space pizza
and theatric performances of “My
Mother the Astronaut.”
“There are so many opportuni-
ties out there,” says Stanfield librar-
ian Cecili Longhorn. “We’re trying
to introduce kids to as many of
them as we can.” Stanfield is joining
other Eastern Oregon libraries this
summer in hosting the University
of Oregon’s Museum of Natural
and Cultural History program “Our
Place In Space,” a presentation with
hands-on activities. You’ll find more
details about library events in our
calendar section or contact your
local library about specific programs
they are offering.
Across the country, there are lots
of museums and galleries celebrat-
ing, including some in the Northwest:
• In Portland, the Oregon Mu-
seum of Science and Industry
(OMSI) is dedicating the whole
month of July to the anniversary,
with live planetarium shows on
the Apollo missions, streaming
videos of current NASA missions,
IMAX showings of “Apollo 11:
First Steps Edition,” and on-the-
floor science demos related
to space science throughout
the museum. They’ll also have
special presentations like Meet a
Scientist – Space Edition on July
13, Rocket Day celebrations on
July 15, and space-theme activi-
ties, virtual reality experiences,
and demos on July 20.
• The night of July 20, there’s a
special version of OMSI’s Star
Party – a Lunar Viewing Party at
Rooster Rock State Park. Warm
clothing recommended.
• The Bechtel National Planetari-
um in Pasco is currently showing
“Apollo 11: Man’s First Step onto
the Moon,” a short, full-dome
film about the historic mission
• The Museum of Flight in Seattle
is hosting the Smithsonian’s
“Destination Moon: The Apollo
11 Mission” exhibit now through
Sept. 2, featuring almost two
dozen artifacts from the mission.
________
Jennifer Colton is news director of
KOHU and KQFM, and mother of
three, based in Pendleton.